Chapter 40

Isabella stood by the window, gripping the phone more tightly than she had the previous evening as the morning light came through her blinds. She kept thinking about Xander's warning. There had been genuine concern in his voice, and his words had been more than a threat. More than anything the Alliance had done to date, it shook her.

She couldn't stop now, though.

Selena was already setting stuff downstairs. The damaging files were only a day away from being made public. When the news broke, the lawyers they had contacted guaranteed complete security, and journalists from a number of reliable publications lined up.

Isabella came down the stairs with a knowing expression in her eyes, and Selena looked up. "Didn't you hear from him?"

Isabella's throat was dry as she nodded. Last night, Xander gave a call. He cautioned me. instructed me to retreat.

Selena squinted her eyes. "So he's also trying to frighten you."

Isabella mumbled, "Maybe," as she looked down at the table with the evidence folder on it. However, it sounded more than just a threat. He sounded anxious.

Selena crossed her arms and reclined in her chair. Whether you're worried or not, Xander is too involved in this disaster. He is untrustworthy. People like him always select their own skin in the end, and he is playing both sides.

Isabella put her fingers to her temples and sighed. "I am aware of that. However... I simply have no idea what will happen next. One thing he is correct about is that the Alliance will not remain motionless while we expose this.

Selena's resolve was greater than ever, and her voice was firm. "For this reason, we must move quickly. Once this narrative gets out, they won't be able to stop it.

Though suspicion gnawed at the corners of Isabella's thoughts, she wanted to believe her. The Alliance was more powerful than anyone realised, and the battle was only getting started when they were exposed.

The mood remained strained for the remainder of the day. As Isabella and Selena finished their last preparations, every minute seemed to drag on forever. To make sure that nothing could be ignored, they kept backup files in several places and had reliable contacts on call.

However, Isabella couldn't get rid of the feeling that something was going to go horribly wrong as the hours passed.

The first indication of problems came in the late afternoon. An incoming message from an unidentified number buzzed through Isabella's phone.

We're watching, even when you believe you're protected. Don't claim that we didn't alert you.

She felt her tummy tighten. Selena looked at the message with gloomy acceptance as she showed it to her. They are merely attempting to frighten us. They are becoming desperate.

Isabella gave a nod, but her thoughts were racing. What if it wasn't merely a danger? What if they were actually one step ahead of the Alliance?

A knock on the door cut her thoughts short. The two women froze, looking at each other suspiciously.

Selena signalled to Isabella to remain back and groped for the revolver she had stashed under the couch. "Leave this to me."

With caution, she opened the door, but a familiar face emerged on the other side in place of the enemy they feared.

Michael was the one.

With an enigmatic expression, Michael stood in the doorway. After the altercation that made Isabella doubt his loyalty, he had been out of their lives for weeks. And now here he was, a phantom of the past, standing in front of them.

"Why are you in this place?" Selena enquired in a suspiciously piercing voice.

With his eyes fixed on Isabella, Michael lifted his hands in submission. "I'm not here to stir things up. I'm available to assist.

Isabella took a step forward, frowning. "Aid? Why now?

With a groan, Michael combed through his hair. "Because I was wrong." My involvement with the Alliance was a mistake. I'm not like them, though. As much as you want to stop them, so do I.

With her finger still poised above the trigger, Selena sneered. "How can we trust you?"

Michael glanced to Isabella, and his eyes softened. "Because I owe her it." I had to tell her the truth.

Isabella paused as she recalled the night of the gala, when everything had gone completely wrong. Even though Michael had participated in a lot of wrongdoing, there was now a glimmer of regret in his eyes.

"What truth?" she questioned softly.

With a low, eager voice, Michael entered. "The Alliance is aware of your plans. They have already set up a trap, and they will ruin everything if you follow through. They will blame you for everything.

Selena squinted her eyes. "How are you aware of that?"

Michael paused. Since Xander informed me. Isabella, he's trying to keep you safe, but he can't do it by himself. They will frame you for the crimes and corruption if you go public with this without a plan. They will bury you.

Selena gave a sour laugh. Do you honestly believe that we'll fall for it? They encourage us to doubt ourselves and put off our plans, and this is exactly what they want. We're not going to back down.

Isabella wasn't so sure, though. The threat from Michael sounded too real. The Alliance possessed the means to eliminate everyone who stood in their path, and they had been untouchable for years. Did she just step into their trap?

"Please, Isabella," Michael begged in a frantic tone. "This cannot be carried out as you had intended. We require an alternative approach.

Isabella glanced at Selena, who gave a firm shake of her head. "He is telling lies. We follow the plan. We have the proof; once we reveal them, they are powerless to harm us.

But Isabella was plagued by doubt. But what if Michael was being honest? What if Xander was genuinely attempting to keep her safe? And what if she was going to ruin everything she had battled for by racing forward?

Isabella found herself alone with Michael a few hours after Selena had gone to see how one of their last connections was doing. The history they shared was as heavy as the tension between them.

Michael whispered softly as he stood at the window, looking away, "I know you don't trust me." "But I'm not against you."

Isabella's voice was harsh as she crossed her arms. "You were employed by them. You assisted them in hiding the deaths of my parents. How am I supposed to trust you?

Pain darkened Michael's eyes. "Back then, I had no idea what they were capable of. It was too late by the time I realised. However, I'm working to put things right.

Isabella gazed at him, caught between wanting to believe him and worrying that it would be her last mistake.

She whispered, "Why should I give you another chance?"

Michael's voice was rough as he turned to face her. "Because Isabella, I adore you." And I'll do everything in my power to protect you.

For the first time, Isabella noticed the vulnerability in his eyes as his confession lingered between them. He was more than a piece in the Alliance's scheme. He was a man who had made bad decisions but was frantically attempting to turn things around.

Isabella inhaled deeply as the decision's weight weighed heavily on her. At this point, she had to choose between two options: one would take her into certain danger, while the other would lead to an uncertain alliance with a guy she wasn't sure she could trust.

In any case, there was not much time left.